Academic-Capital

Government, Investments, Entrepreneurship and Manufacturing as a Growth Strategy in Digital Economy. The markets are what greases our economic machinery. Reviewing reports from big investment banks like JP.Morgan helps us get an idea of what the markets are going to look like in the near future. I'm spending more time exploring different stocks and options within the global market to determine growth value and possible unexplored avenues of investment and development ( i.e. trends and cluster development to meet those future needs . Delta County, MI as my working model . ). That also doesn't include watching how stocks prices and global markets react to government decisions and natural phenomenon ( There is always underlining logic/mechanics to animal spirits and even to seemingly random events. ) The report  JP Morgan 2021 Mid Year Investment Outlook  provides three things investors should look at... 1) Which markets are more geared toward the global recovery?,  2) Which marke

We are in a new era that has long left behind the chalk boards and pull down maps we so fondly remember learning from in classrooms without air conditioning ( Go back further and people sat under trees .🌲🌳🌴). We are now in a time when virtual education has rises and will someday likely be parallel to traditional schools ( at least for some degrees. STEM education will likely still need campus for the "hard" sciences. That also doesn't discount some of the benefits of being on ground and socialized into the educational system . Proximity and face-to-face is a rich environmental and channel expansion  great for learning . What we can say is that education/communication is not limited to physicality but can be expanded beyond that. ) What the era of big data allows is for the discovery and fostering of those with latent gifted potentials to better ensure they move to actualized performance for the benefit of themselves and their nation ( i.e. an alternative form of servic

It appears  H.R. 1281  to honor Steve Andrews passes House of Representatives. Its a straight forward bill designed to honor the life of a a valued community member in Northern Michigan's 106 District . You can read the actual document on Congresses webpage here . Who is Steve Andrews? I looked him up and came across an interesting article Petoskey News that outlines his life as Navy Medic that saved countless lives and was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal and Purple Heart. After service he/wife started Sturgeon River Pottery, supported teams and artists in the area.  What we find is that Steve Andrews served his country and then served his community and is an example for many of us to follow. This is why naming and honoring helps us remember those did well and gave honor to themselves and country. Yet it does more...it also provides the next generation with a social learning opportunity through role modeling. Bergman's Bill to Honor Navy Corpsman Steve Andrews Passes Hou

A speech from President Biden a few days ago on the economy that I missed that seems interesting from a policy standpoint. I'm not going to comment on much other then on the general concept of tax reform, business balance, and sense of community/national orientation. What I can say is I believe there may be other ways of designing taxes, outside of our norms that may make more sense in a global digital economy ( Here is a calibrated tax plan I'm thinking about but isn't yet fully vetted. ). In this case, the President is discussing more of the issue of imbalances between corporate taxes and middle class taxes and then leads into a few more concepts. There should be a balance between the needs of small, medium and large businesses to create a resilient economy where the "mix" strengthens the entire system ( opportunity, innovation, business diversity ). When there are different types of businesses run by lots of different people of different backgrounds we have a

A debate has risen on what happens when a large Chinese real estate/lending ( real estate is about lending, appreciation, and rent ) company fails in the post-Covid global market. We may be seeing a default with stock sell offs at China Evergrande Group that could indicate its on the brink of insolvency. The company appears to be overleveraged and unable to be able to pay its debts ( its crashing on itself from a lack of liquidity and complexity ). Fox News's article, ' China's Evergrande: What to know ' and Bloomberg's ' America’s Corporate Bond Binge Interrupted by Evergrande Tumult ' offer some insight into why Evergrande might fail and its implications for world markets if it does ( The news  appears to show that there was a growing problem for at least the past year reaching back perhaps 10 years .).  If we look at examples in history we will find that very large bedrock real estate/financial institutions that fail can have an impact on the overall stab

Keeping up with the news......Watching the press briefings helps us to understand what changes we can expect and some of the problems we are facing as a nation. It also highlights potential strategies forming in real time ( I'm thinking more as to the process of strategic decisions when information is ambiguous, the basic assumptions used to make those decisions and what the differences are between the last and present administration. Essentially I just want to understand the process .🤓). No matter who is the president there are lots of unknowns and as things emerge we understand the environment better and in turn create greater awareness potential strategies to put the U.S. in the best economic, social, strategic position. 

The meeting was all about grants, possibly hiring grant writers ( It is so much work...and detailed work . I did it a couple of times and it went into someone's computer "trash bin" I'm sure . 😭), possible recycling (Green City), rezoning, and housing around Ludington ( Good ideas for business, tourism, and senior/young housing that helps the downtown be busier and of greater commercial/tax benefit .).  Closed session ( hmmmm 🤔). You can some additional information on the September 16th, 2021 Meeting Agenda  and City Government Meeting Page . What I can say is that Escanaba City Hall appears to be working together to enhance their community and the benefit to local residents that rely on their decisions.  Government often does best when normal administrative problems are solved closest to the community of stakeholders; there are exceptions for national issues. In this case, it appears that motivated city admin and elected officials are working toward gaining resourc

Cicero and the Roman Republic You can learn more about Cicero's Political Philosophy In recent years I have been thinking about politics a little more ( the good and bad of it ) and watching with intent the events as they unfold in the news bringing greater awareness of major political arguments and philosophical positions ( Looking for similarities of position we might be able to agree upon. ). What I can say is that sometimes its important to laugh at ourselves and take things with a grain of salt ( As long as in a positive way. ). Politics is sooo soo serious and people are sooo sooo serious about it! Yikes! 🤨Yes, I think there is good reason to be serious about it because we have a responsibility to ensure that we are making the best decisions for the most amount of people. But...... As I watch politics I kind of get the jokes that I didn't get before. Its just that I didn't pay attention enough to the political landscape to truly understand the background that leads

When reports from noteworthy organizations, think tanks and governments come out its important to pay attention because they often have something important to say ( ok...most of the time! ). The one thing many Americans are thinking about is the economy. As soon as you turn on the news you will find the airwaves filled with economic discussions ranging from "love it" to "hate it". One way to stay in tune with economic activities and the decision making of global financial leadership is to look at some of the big reports that are released/published for public consumption. For example, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) published the report , ' UN Trade and Development Report September 15th, 2021 ' that delves into economic projections of the US and world through 2022 and a hint of what is beyond ( I really just wanted to see 2022/2023 transition based on my economic transactional innovative adaptation theory .   😢) The UN states, &qu

Considering that SpaceX is around the U.P. and there are lots of interest from government on developing new technologies along this line. What people are clapping for is that the technologies are working well and each stage of the flight is functioning properly leaving open new opportunities to develop the process for commercialized flight  further ( Maybe we can root for the Packers and for SpaceX/NASA 😆) 

The very first fist experiences of resettling new Afghan refugees into the U.S. are important one's for socializing these new comers around the hope and dreams that make America unique. Connecting new immigrants to their host country requires a level of socialization Afghans not only with Muslim communities but also with other religious and ethics groups that are a support to their new life and a full understanding of our national beauty ( Opportunities to create real hope and change not only for them but also for us .). The U.S is a place where people of all faiths and backgrounds have an opportunity to be part of an effort to work toward something greater. The children of these immigrants will be born and bred American and will support the development of our nation through their own blends of experiences and ideas.  This "welcoming" is something of a game changer in the way we "connect" people and how we generate an organic and lasting image for our country (

Rural places can be tricky for firefighters and first responders because there are lots of miles that must be covered on sometimes very challenging roads. Sometimes its safer and faster to have a helicopter to lift the trauma victim(s) and move them to the nearest qualified hospital. During these types of scenarios, agencies may opt to use an emergency airlift service like Guardian Flight.     On the ground firefighters at Escanaba Township Vol Fire Department , Bark River Vol. Fire Department , Ensign Vol. Fire Dept and Nahma Fire Department attended training on how to "hot load" injury victims. Most of these guys/gals do so out of the goodness of their hearts and don't receive any compensation. Supporting your local firefighters can go a long way in helping communities stay safe during difficult times.  FYI.... Escanaba Township Vol. Fire Department is still in need of a newer grass/brush/field truck if there are any companies that want to donate.  If you want to know

Economists, business executives, and investors of all types like to see some of the projections that banks offer. These banks conducted their own analysis to help determine future investor strategies. Remember, that banks make money when people trust their advance and are willing to deposit, invest and earn a profit on capital. Watching banks, especially different banks, can give you a benchmark of what institutional investors are thinking as they navigate the fringe ( Things that haven't happened yet ). Assuming that the metrics they are using are not outdated or misrepresented each uses their own particular (but related) strategies to forecast. Bayesian Time Varying Models .  Bank of America Securities offers some discussion on supply chain disruptions ( That is also why I think the U.S. should update its infrastructure, shorten its supply chains, and engage in mutual development projects with Canada and Mexico to corner the different price bands of new products to price out pro

Future Smart Cities  $750K is doesn't seem like a lot of money today but it can go a long way in supporting historical preservation within the state. Matched with the good will of many of our Historical Societies ( Delta County Historical Society as a possible example) can go further than expected. Our past and our future are tied together as we navigate from the systems of the old (i.e. lighthouses and telescopes) to the new (emergency port/communications beacons and next generation satellite supply chain navigation.). While many of these buildings will move into historical status they also remind us of a time when we were growing, building and thriving as a nation. Perhaps someday we can find some use for those towers to both preserve them but also help strengthen the navigation system by blending the old and the new. Where there is a will there is a way! (Upper Michigan Source) Federal Historic Preservation Funds To Support Communities Along The Great Lakes ( Escanaba-Gladstone

U.S. Capitol Police arrest White supremist with bayonet and machete hovering around a Democratic National Committee. The guy says that he is "on patrol" but one would wonder if part of a patrol group or on his own. (I suspect if it was truly in sequence it wouldn't be a single person out there doing these things.). This is where mental health and understanding the deeper motives of the person might be of benefit. While these situations are striking they do offer an opportunity to better understanding the underlining mechanics of behavior. Inside truck. Deer horns on front of truck indicates another issue. Of course we might look at groups the person was involved with, websites, close associates, coworkers and any other historical info that might be relevant. Because this is happening in real time we can also say it can be solid place to double check on intent of associated group members (If not a mental health issue). Once you sort of grab weapons you become dangerous and

 Escanaba hosts an excellent harbor as ideal place to dock your boat and enjoy some downtown time within a short walking/biking distance ( Marina has bikes you can rent for free .). Great park, beach, walkways and nearby dining/events turns a boating trip into a total fun experience. Escanaba is one of those places that it is already awesome but certainly could attract new firms and businesses downtown. I've traveled some around the country and this is a forest blanketed small city/town right on the coast that could offer both fun and investment opportunities for business/government stakeholders.  When investors look at locations like Escanaba they may analyze characteristics like infrastructure (shipping, water, electric, roads, ports, etc...), buildings, skilled labor, government support, crime rates/policing, housing recreation and fun (etc...) to get a big picture of how their business and investment dollars may fit. Availability of information will make a difference in attract

Today is a day of remembrance. You may want to watch the different speeches about this tragic day and where our focus may lay. Each of these presidents has insightful knowledge of the events ( part of the job of being a president ) and something to say. No doubt we will strive for greatness as a nation by setting our sights over the horizon ( next 20 years ) and we will navigate that path together as a single people! The time for civility and nation building has begun.   Current President Joe Biden   Former President Donald Trump Former President  Obama reflects 20 Years  after September 11th, 2021 Former President George Bush Side note: As a hypothetical mental puzzle.... Could we turn what we learned over the last 20 years into something that solidifies our national image, universalized global values, and build the very first advance digital era/information age (next gen. manufacturing) nation before China? ok ok hold on before you judge....because this could be a useful met

  We shall never forget! We will overcome! Some of us still believe! September 11th, 2001 will forever be burned in our national conscious as the day the world went silent. It also started a new era and brought forth a commitment to eradicate extremism where ever we find it. As we face extremism in our hometowns today we must now rise to that challenge again in a way that requires real commitment from our politicians, judges and business leaders to get on board. We can no longer afford to turn a blind eye to the new monster brewing under our beds. It will take a nation of forward thinking people to thwart extremism no matter the perpetrators race, religion, ideology. America is based in a dream of freedom and the ability of people to be their very best through the universalization of its values. We may have withdrawn from Afghanistan but the real fight over extremism may have just started. We need new tools to deal with domestic issues. Michigan Hate Crime Reform.  Let us just hope our

The Brookings Institute published on their site an interesting study on what our country might look like if we created additional equality between racial groups. Different researchers are likely to come out with different ways of looking at how to measure equality in economic terms but the overall concept is a beneficial one to consider.  The researchers reviewed five metrics of our working population that included employment, education attainment, hours worked, educational utilization and earnings. This is what they found.....  " Then, in The economic gains from equity, they conducted a thought experiment, asking: “How much larger would the U.S. economic pie be if opportunities and outcomes were more equally distributed by race and ethnicity?” Their answer is $22.9 trillion over the 30-year period ." ( Buckman, Choi & Daly, 2021. para 2 ) Racial inequities cost U.S. economy trillions, researchers find You can download the full report at the citation link below. What I wa

There is always a natural balance between job openings and jobless that includes a type of cushion that when wages rise additional workers may be willing to jump into the market. The article, " Job openings reach historic high of almost 11 million. Why are 9 million still jobless ?" by Aimee Picchi helps us think about some of those issues.  There are lots of different ideas and thoughts about it. Some is related to COVID concerns and some of it may be related to a desire not to work at the same level. It may also be that there is a mismatch between the types of jobs opening and the type of skills currently available in the market.  Let us say for a moment you have high job openings but people don't have the background and right skills to engage in those jobs. That may mean higher levels of training skill and ability that helps to give people real opportunities to engage in the market are needed. No one wants to sweep floors if they can do something more meaningful ( not